Cancer Patient Gives Back to Local Food Bank

Josh Katrick won a year of free pizza, but instead of keeping it for himself he gave back in a beautiful way.

By Megan Bailey
megan bailey

Mario's Pizza Northampton/Facebook

Josh Katrick had just finished his eighth round of chemotherapy for colon cancer when he ran into a bit of luck. The 36-year-old found out that he won free pizza for an entire year from his local pizza restaurant in Northampton, Pennsylvania.

However, instead of celebrating his winnings and immediately running to get a slice of pizza, Katrick decided that other people in his community needed the food more.

He gave every slice away.

A local food bank has been the recipient of Katrick’s generosity.

"You know the saying, 'When life gives you lemons make lemonade,' well, when life gives you pizza, give away a slice"

"You know the saying, 'When life gives you lemons make lemonade,' well, when life gives you pizza, give away a slice," he told CNN.

He cited that he was inspired to pay it forward this holiday season because of the generosity he received from others during his cancer treatment.

"After everything I went through these last few months -- I met so many people and have been receiving so much -- I felt I wanted to give back." Katrick said. "The food bank are very thankful. They're amazed by it. They will put it to good use"

Katrick has been frequenting the pizza shop, Mario’s Pizza, since he was a child. He was one of 1,200 people to enter the competition. The winner would walk away two large pizzas and soda every month for the next year.

Katrick received an email from the shop telling him he won, and he replied asking if he could give the free pizza to someone else.

“We asked the question, ‘Who are you thinking?’ and he said, ‘Northampton Food Bank.’ And it kind of, like, it hit a nerve…in the heart,” said manager Frank Grigoli.

After learning what Katrick wanted to do with his winnings, the pizza shop decided to extend its own act of kindness. The restaurant decided to double the prize to make sure Katrick gets his share of pizza, along with the food bank.

"I thought someone would win, they'd be excited, come in and get their pizzas, but a story like this to come out of a contest like that..." Giuseppe Aiello, the son of the family-run pizzeria's co-owner, told CNN affiliate WFMZ.

"It's better to give than receive, and especially during this time of year -- Christmas," Aiello said.

Katrick said he had surgery for stage 2 colon cancer in August and has been receiving chemotherapy since September.

"My family and friends are amazed -- so many positive reactions. Around Christmas it really brought everybody's spirits up and made people know there are good people in the world fighting the good fight."

Josh's father, Ron Katrick, told CNN he is "very proud" of his son.

And his generosity doesn't end there.

Josh, still reluctant to indulge in all the pizza coming his way, told CNN, "Maybe I'll share with my friends on Facebook [and] make a contest of my own to see if anyone would like some pizza."

Megan Bailey is the Social Media Specialist and Content Producer for Beliefnet. She attended James Madison University where she received a degree in psychology.